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Is this the year you really want to dive into Lent? Do you want to come out of this Lenten Season and truly feel that you've had a small share of living in the desert with Christ for 40 days? I know that I do. Maybe it's an upcoming birthday that's making me have more of a now-or-never type of attitude towards Lent. Or maybe I just acutely feel the necessity of truly modeling this for my children, and living it with my husband. Whatever it is, these are the books and resources I'm going to use this Lent to really LIVE the season from Ash Wednesday all the way through to Easter Vigil. Look them over. If something looks helpful to you, use it. If it inspires you, go with it. I hope all of these bless and encourage you.

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Tax Day Musings.

When my mom died last year she left us with several annuities. These were the type of tax-deferred annuities that when they were distributed, the taxes had to be paid on them. So my sister and both saw spikes in our income and had to pay the taxes from this money. So far, so good. We both did our civic duty and paid our federal, state and city taxes but doing so illustrated to me how un-stimulating taxation is. I mean, I wrote the check and sent it into the government, end of story. But maybe it would it have been better for the economy and for my fellow citizens if I had spent the money instead. So just for a lark, I thought I'd blog about 20 things that I woulda/coulda bought with my tax money, if I still had it!

1. Books- from Amazon, from local book stores, from Catholic vendors - making it possible for all of those vendors to pay bills, buy more books, etc.
2. Vacation/recreation. I could have gone on a big trip this year - something that we NEVER do unless it's with a tent. We might have even flown which would have helped the ailing airline industries, as well as hotels, restaurants etc.
3. More online courses like Bravewriter.
4. Send Gabe to Interlochen.
5. Hire someone else to do the outside trim painting and inside paint jobs.
6. Lap top, electronics for Mr. Pete and the teens for school work.
7. New Guitar for Sam
8. Maybe new vehicle for Mr. Pete.
9. Kitchen remodel and new appliances.
10. Replace 15 year old washer and second hand dryers.
11. Install central air.
12. Replace worn and torn sofa.
13. Buy some sod for kid-worn nonexistent turf in the backyard.
14. Paid one year of college for Sam.
15. Pay to have trees in front removed.
16. Send Izzy to an Art Camp.
17. Start Rosie in dance classes.
18. Get a bigger and newer computer screen for work.
19. Update software for homeschool computer.
20. Buy a good telescope.

and I thought... if everyone who had to write a check today could have bought something with it instead, or invested, wouldn't that have been a true Stimulus Plan? So I wish someone would explain to me how higher taxes are going to be better for America because where I sit, I just don't see it.

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It seems that one of the biggest events in confirmation preparation in this country is the letters of support to be given to the confirmation candidates during their mandatory retreats.

I have three such letters saved on this blog:

Confirmation letter to my daughterConfirmation letter to my fourth sonConfirmation letter to to my third son
I've asked my children what they remember about the letter they got from me and their dad, and also what they remembered about the letters they received.
The answer was not much, or at least nothing specific. In general they were happy to have gotten a bag full of letters and there was a sense of feeling loved and supported. I guess that's the main thing - for them to have a sense that this is an important step in their spiritual growth, and that people they know, love and respect have taken the time out of their lives to let them know that!
So here are some tips on procuring and writing letters for young confirmation candidates. Start thinkin…

March 5 and 6, 2010
My Dearest Gabe;
I can’t express to you enough what a wonderful gift you have been to your father and me from the very moment you were born. You have always been such a beautiful, good natured, fun loving and enjoyable baby, little boy and now young man. I am so proud of you and so honored to be your mother.

You know Gabe, you have always been a big guy. When I was pregnant with you the midwife was always amazed at how big you were getting inside of my stomach. And when you came out (with much effort!) you were as big as some 3 month olds! You have stayed ahead of the curve in size for kids your age. I think it is because God has given you a big heart. You are so full of love and joy you needed a big heart to keep it all in and a big body to hold it all. You are my gentle giant.

I know God has a special plan for you and I look forward to helping you figure out what that might be. Always hang on to the memory of these times, remember all that your father and I…

Join my e-mail list and receive a free PDF file on Writing a Letter to Your Confirmation Candidate with prompts and a check list!

Dear Noah,

In a few weeks you will be confirmed as a full member of the Catholic Church. Congratulations! I know that you have really worked hard to understand and learn as much about your Catholic faith as you could before receiving this sacrament. On your retreat there are a few things your Dad and I would like you to remember -

You were our fourth son in a row but you have always been a unique little boy. I love your bright blue eyes, all of those freckles and dimples. I guess God really wanted you to tap into your Celtic Heritage!

I love how you are always ready with a quick smile for everyone.

I loved how even when you were a baby you would cry when a baby on t.v. was crying, or if a kid outside was crying or basically when you saw anyone crying - you didn't even have to know why - you just did. That's great empathy and you still have t…

This is from a discussion I participated on over at the now defunct Birth Control and Catholic Church Forum aka the boardIlovetocommenton. This was a very pro-contraception, dissident Catholic discussion board. I originally posted this on January 21, 2004. Their points initalics, and my responses are highlighted.

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One key point we keep making on the discussions is about how and why the sex act is actually used by married couples, and in this sense, there is absolutely no difference between NFP and ABC in the acts couples make use of (assuming they're using NFP to avoid conception). I would disagree. The is a key element in the practicing Catholic couple's use of NFP in the marital act, is their respectful understanding and acceptance of the teaching of the Catholic Church as well as their submission to that in obedience to Christ's teaching. This is something that is fundamentally missing from the marital act with artificial contraception.

Join my e-mail list and receive a free PDF file on Writing a Letter to Your Confirmation Candidate with prompts and a checklist!

My Dearest Daughter,

I cannot believe that you are old enough to make your confirmation!! The time has flown by for me! When I was growing up, I always wondered what my own daughter would be like. And I was sure that I would have a daughter because I was the oldest daughter, of the oldest daughter, of the oldest daughter!

But after having your four brothers in a row, even I was beginning to have my doubts! But God had you in the plan after all!

I was amazed when you were born - at your beauty and femininity -at just at how lucky we were to have you!

You were a special surprise too because you came only 15 months after your brother Noah! But as hard as it was having two babies at the same time, I love how close you two have always been, and grateful that you would always have each other to love and count on.

God's Not Dead is an uplifting and enjoyable Christian-based movie appropriate for students from elementary school through college and their parents. We went with two of my teenage children and my 8-year-old daughter and we all enjoyed the movie and have had many discussions about it since.

We enjoyed it as a family, but I would also recommend this movie for church youth groups and homeschooling groups. I hope to buy the DVD when it comes out to donate it to our parish.

The premise of the movie involves a freshman philosophy student's challenge to defend the existence of God to his adversarial and intimidating philosophy teacher and his classmates. The stories of other characters (a preacher, a selfish business man, a young woman caring for her mother with dementia, a successful blogger who faces a devastating diagnosis, and a Muslim convert to Christianity) are woven into the plot line until they are…